The Hand of Fatima

I have been coming across this particular symbol at too many places and at too many times that its kind of mysterious. Had to know the logic behind me seeing it all the time. And was absolutely amazed at what I read. Surprisingly this symbol has been a favourite with countless artists and designers thereupon used on clothes, as tattoos, painting, fashion accessory and wall hangings to name a few.

So lets find out little more about this captivating symbol.

Panja or Hamsa is the hand of Prophet Muhammad's daughter Fatima. It is the symbol of patience, loyalty, faith and resistance against difficulties. According to common belief, it tells of the Fatima's struggle for dignity and her tough life. Thereby, purity, goodness and truth are blessed.

For centuries, Fatima’s Hand has been a powerful talisman for good luck and one of the most popular amulets in the world of Islam for protection. It is hung on the walls of the house as engraving in silver or gold or it is painted in red. It is believed that a house protected by the Hand of Fatima will not catch fire.

In Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, ornaments of Fatima’s hand have the same meaning as evil eyes. In these countries, the miracle of the hand is given a great deal of importance.

Prophet Muhammad takes under his aba (strong coarse wool cloth) the Hazrat Fatima, Hazrat Ali and their sons Hasan and Hussein and then said ‘’my God, they are my family (ahl al-bayt), protect them from evil and keep them away from bad thoughts.’’

Therefore, the other name of Hamsa is Pençe-i Al-i Aba.

According to traditional Islamic culture, the five fingers of Hamsa represent the five requirements of Islam, which are-

To profess your faith,

Pray,

Give Alms,

To Fast,

To undertake a Pilgrimage to Mecca

The five fingers of Hamsa also represent the prophet's family (ahl al-bayt). Prophet Muhammad represented by the thumb, Ali by forefinger, Fatima by middle finger, Hasan by ring finger and Hussein by the little finger.

FATIMA: She was not an ordinary woman. She was Prophet Muhammad's daughter and Hazrat Ali's wife. It is a strong woman that continued the generation of the Prophet Muhammad in patriarchal Arab society.

She was the master of the healers and treated the Prophet Muhammad when he was wounded in war. It is still believed that it is possible to cure incurable diseases with the help of Fatima’s hand and the prayer from the heart.

Muhammad called his daughter Fatima his heart, soul and conscience as it was her who continued the generation for him.

Fatima's life became very difficult with the death of the Prophet Muhammad. She died three months after him and was secretly buried by her husband Hazrat Ali. The death of Fatima marked the beginning of the bad days for Muhammad’s family.

Fatima’s husband Ali was killed in an ambush and their sons Hasan and Hussein were killed with their families.

The death of Prophet Muhammad's family caused a huge indignation in the world of Islam and launched many conflicts and separations of the faith. It laid the foundation of different sects.

Fatima is very important for both Sunnis and Shiites, the two major sects of Islam. Sufis usually had the form of Hamsa (Fatima’s Hand) on the head of their wands with the names of twelve imams and the Prophet Ali engraved onto it. Shiism and Alawism in Anatolia are heterodox beliefs that arose following the death of the Prophet Muhammad's family and Fatima's hand has a great value for Schism and Alawism, because it symbolises the ahl al bayt.

Therefore, Fatima has a very important place in the Islamic faith, which is a surprising symbol of sublimation to women, and her value in a patriarchal society. The authority of goddess, which has been attributed to the Virgin Mary in Christianity, has been given to Fatima in Islam. The hand of Fatima is the goddess's hand and she is still affectionately considered as a myth within a wide geographical area.